Implementation of the WHO “Safe Surgery Saves Lives” checklist in a podiatric surgery unit in Spain: a single-center retrospective observational study

Abstract

BackgroundThe Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) is a tool developed by the World Health Alliance for Patient Safety, to assist health professionals in improving patient safety during surgery. Numerous specialties have incorporated this into their clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to adapt and implement this tool within the field of podiatric surgery and to evaluate its impact upon safety standards and post-surgical complications.MethodsAn analytical, observational, longitudinal study has been performed retrospectively. The implementation of the Surgical Safety Checklist in podiatric surgery took place over a 10-month period. The sample is made up from the medical histories of patients who were operated on (n = 134) in the University of Seville’s podiatric clinic. The sample was divided into three groups: those prior to the implementation process (65 subjects), those after the implementation process: without the SSC (35 subjects) and those with the SSC (34 subjects). The safety standards included in the tool were analysed in conjunction with the results and post-operative complications.ResultsAn improvement was seen in compliance with the Prophylaxis Protocol and the correct completion of the Informed Consent (p = 0.00), as well as a statistically significant relationship between the correct use of antibiotic prophylaxis and the use of the Surgical Safety Checklist (p = 0.049). The results demonstrate a reduction in the number of post-operative days (p = 0.012). No cases of surgery being performed in the wrong place were found in this study.ConclusionsThe Surgical Safety Checklist allows us to improve compliance with the safety protocols recommended by the scientific community, and consequently to reduce the incidence of complications related to surgery and to improve patient safety during elective podiatric surgery.

The Treatment of Ingrown Nail: Chemical Matricectomy With Phenol Versus Aesthetic Reconstruction. A Single Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The same clinic carried out all the surgical procedures of the hallux and the other clinic did the mediators of the study variables with a clinical and photographic follow-up. The surgical verification list was used to improve the patients' safety [18].…”

Factors that drive team participation in surgical safety checks: a prospective study

“…However, findings from previous studies in this area [ 22 – 25 ] suggest that checklist implementation does not always equate to compliance. In fact, two studies [ 24 , 26 ] found that despite 100 % documented completion of the sign in phase of the checklist, most of the individual items were either not addressed as intended, or not addressed at all.…”

Validation of self-assessment instrument for the Patient Safety Center

“…The third challenge, launched in 2017, "Medication Without Harm" aims to reduce harm related to medications by encouraging institutions to make their systems safer. Brazil, as a member of the WHO, has adhered to all challenges and has been working on improving health care (2)(3)(4) .…”